Obituary of John Martin Buck

John Martin Buck of Calgary passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the age of 83 years. John was an Anglican priest, Civil Engineer, instructor, and back-yard mechanic — a true Renaissance man. We delight that, as he would say, he has gone to see Jesus face-to-face. John was born in Ottawa on December 28, 1925 and raised in Verdun, Montreal. John and Laurel lived on the same street and first met in elementary school. John graduated from McGill University with a B.Eng. and later went back to McGill’s Montreal Diocesan College to take a Master of Theology (STM). John and Laurel moved to the Gatineau in Quebec for his first, 6-point parish. Eight years in Chateauguay followed, where John led the parish in building St. George’s church. In 1965, John and Laurel packed up their four boys and the family dog and drove to Calgary where he became the Associate Priest of the parish of Christ Church. They maintained their roots in Quebec, returning every summer to the family cottage that John built at Little Red Pine Lake. In 1967, John undertook his own centennial project and became an instructor of Math and Physics at SAIT. He taught for twenty-three years, a respected teacher who treated his adult students with compassion and understanding. At the same time, John continued as a worker-priest in a team ministry. John fell in love with western Canada when he travelled to Saskatchewan as a teenager in wartime to help bring in the crops. He shared his love of the land with his family, teaching the boys to ski, boating in the Shuswap and at Waterton, and camping in the eight-man man tent all across Canada. John was a man who could fix a dryer with an old nylon stocking while exploring the finer points of New Testament theology or the workings of the internal combustion engine. He had a quick walk, a sharp mind, and a loyal and generous heart. He lives on. John is lovingly remembered by Laurel, his wife of sixty years; sons, Martin (Irene), Jack (Tracy), Stephen (Julia) and Tom (Lisa); and grandchildren, Sarah, Joshua (Michelle, who is expecting his great-grandson), Emily, Katie, John, Laurel and Melanie. Funeral Services will be held at Christ Church Elbow Park (3602 – 8th Street S.W.) on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 4:00 pm. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Agapé Hospice, 1302 – 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588. In living memory of John Buck, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.